The list of countries below shows the ages in which people may legally engage in sexual intercourse (Please refer to the footnotes). The information here is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used to inform personal decisions.
Aa: Afganistan - Azerbaijan
Afghanistan: Male/Female: 18/Married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: llegal
Albania: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Algeria: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
American Samoa: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Andorra: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Angola: Male/Female: 12/15 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Antigua and Barbuda: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Argentina: Male/Female: 13/16 | Male/Male: 13/16 | Female/Female: 13/16
Armenia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Aruba: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Australia ACT: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Australia NSW & Norfolk Is.: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Australia NT: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Australia Queensland1: Male/Female: 16/18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 16
Australia SA: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
Australia Tasmania: Male/Female:17 - Male/Male: 17 - Female/Female: 17
Australia Victoria: Male/Female: 17 - Male/Male: 17 - Female/Female: 17
Australia WA: Male/Female: 16 - Male/Male: 16 - Female/Female: 16
Austria2: Male/Female: 14/16 - Male/Male: 14/16 - Female/Female: 14/16
Azerbaijan: Male/Female: 16 - Male/Male: 16 - Female/Female: 16
Bb: Bahamas - Burundi
Bahamas: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Bahrain: Male/Female: 16/Married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Bangladesh: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Barbados: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Belarus: Male/Female: 16/18 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Belgium: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Belize: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Bermuda: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 16
Benin: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Bhutan: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Bolivia: Male/Female: 16/14 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Bosnia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Botswana: Male/Female: 16/14 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Brazil3: Male/Female: 14/18 | Male/Male: 14/18 | Female/Female: 14/18
Brunei: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Bulgaria: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Burkina Faso: Male/Female: 13 | Male/Male: 13 | Female/Female: 13
Burma/Myanmar: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Burundi: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Cc: Cambodia - Czech Republic
Cambodia (Kampuchea): Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Cambodia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Cameroon: Male/Female: Must be married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Canada4: Male/Female: 16/18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 16
Cape Verde: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Cayman Islands: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Central African Republic: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Chad: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: 21 | Female/Female: 21
Chile: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
China: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
China - Hong Kong: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
China – Macao: Male/Female: 16/17 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Colombia: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Congo (Democratic Republic of the): Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Cook Islands: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Costa Rica: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Cote D'Ivoire: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15? | Female/Female: 15?
Croatia: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Cuba: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Cyprus: Male/Female: 13/17 | Male/Male: 17 (Illegal in north) | Female/Female: 17
Czech Republic: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Dd: Denmark - Dutch Antilles
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Denmark5: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Dominica: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Dominican Republic: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Dutch Antilles: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Ee: Ecuador - Ethiopia
Ecuador: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Egypt: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 18
El Salvador: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Equatorial Guinea: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Eritrea: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Estonia: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Ethiopia: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Ff: Falkland Islands - French Polynesia
Falkland Islands (Malvinas): Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Faroe Islands: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Fiji: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 (unofficial) | Female/Female: 16
Finland6: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
France: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
French Guiana: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
French Polynesia (Tahiti): Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Gg: Gabon - Guyana
Gabon: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Gambia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Georgia (country): Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Germany7: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 14/16 | Female/Female: 14/16
Ghana: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Gibraltar: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 16
Greece: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15/17 | Female/Female: 15
Greenland: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Grenada: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 17
Guam: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Guadelope: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Guatemala: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Guernsey: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Guinea: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Guyana: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Hh: Haiti - Hungary
Haiti: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Honduras: Male/Female: 14/17 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Hungary: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Ii: Iceland - Italy
Iceland: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
India8 : Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Indonesia: Male/Female: 19/16 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Iran: Male/Female: Must be married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Iraq: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Ireland: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
Isle of Man: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Israel: Male/Female: 14-16 | Male/Male: 14-16 | Female/Female: 14-16
Italy: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Jj: Jamaica - Jordan
Jamaica: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Japan9: Male/Female: 13-18 | Male/Male: 13-18 | Female/Female: 13-18
Jersey: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Jordan: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Kk: Kazakhstan - Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Kenya: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 18
Kuwait: Male/Female: Must be married? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Kyrgyzstan: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Ll: Laos - Luxembourg
Laos: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Latvia: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 14/16 | Female/Female: 14/16
Lebanon: Male/Female: 15/18/Married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Lesotho: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Liberia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Liechtenstein: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Lithuania: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Luxembourg: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Mm: Macedonia - Mozambique
Macedonia (former Yugoslav Rep.): Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Madagascar: Male/Female: 21? | Male/Male: 21 | Female/Female: 21
Mali: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Malta: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Malaysia: Male/Female: 16/Married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Marshall Islands: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Martinique: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Mauritius: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Mexico10: Male/Female: 12-18 | Male/Male: 12-18 | Female/Female: 12-18
Moldova: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Monaco: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Mongolia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Montenegro: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Morocco: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Mozambique: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Nn: Namibia - Norway
Namibia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Nepal: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Netherlands: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Netherlands Antilles: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
New Caledonia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
New Zealand: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Nicaragua: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Niger: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: 21 | Female/Female: 21
Nigeria: Male/Female: 13 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
North Korea: Male/Female: Undefined | Male/Male: Undefined | Female/Female: Undefined
Norway: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Oo: Oman
Oman: Male/Female: Must be married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Pp: Pakistan - Puerto Rico
Pakistan: Male/Female: Must be married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Panama: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Papua New Guinea11: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Paraquay12: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Peru: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Philippines13: Male/Female: 12/18 | Male/Male: 12/18 | Female/Female: 12/18
Poland: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Portugal14: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 14/16 | Female/Female: 14/16
Puerto Rico 1: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Qq: Qatar
Qatar: Male/Female: Must be married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Rr: Reunion - Rwanda
Reunion: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Romania: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Russia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Rwanda: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Ss: San Marino - Syria
San Marino: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 14/16 | Female/Female: 14/16
Saudi Arabia: Male/Female: Must be married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Senegal: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Serbia: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: 14 | Female/Female: 14
Singapore: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Slovakia: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Slovenia: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Somalia: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
South Africa 2: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
South Korea: Male/Female: 13 | Male/Male: 13 | Female/Female: 13
Spain: Male/Female: 13 | Male/Male: 13 | Female/Female: 13
Sri Lanka: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
St. Kitts and Nevis: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
St. Lucia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
St. Martin: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Sudan: Male/Female: Must be married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Suriname: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Sweden: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Swaziland: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Switzerland: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Syria: Male/Female: 13/15 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Tt: Taiwan - Tuvalu
Taiwan: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Tajikistan: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: 17
Tanzania: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Thailand15: Male/Female: 15/18 | Male/Male: 15/18 | Female/Female: 15/18
Togo: Male/Female: 14 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Tonga16: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Trinidad & Tobago: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Tunisia: Male/Female: 20 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Turkey: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Turkmenistan: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Tuvalu: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
USA: Alabama - Montana
Alabama: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Alaska: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Arizona: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Arkansas17: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 14/16 | Female/Female: 14/16
California: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Colorado17: Male/Female: 15/17 | Male/Male: 15/17 | Female/Female: 15/17
Connecticut: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
D.C. : Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Delaware17: Male/Female: 16/18 | Male/Male: 16/18 | Female/Female: 16/18
Florida17: Male/Female: 16/18 | Male/Male: 16/18 | Female/Female: 16/18
Georgia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Hawaii: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Idaho: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Illinois: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
Indiana17: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 14/16 | Female/Female: 14/16
Iowa17: Male/Female: 14/16 | Male/Male: 14/16 | Female/Female: 14/16
Kansas: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Kentucky: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Louisiana17: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
Maine: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Maryland: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Massachusetts: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Michigan: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Minnesota: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Mississippi: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Missouri: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
Montana: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
USA: Nebraska - Wyoming
Nebraska: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
Nevada: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
New Hampshire: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
New Jersey: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
New Mexico: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
New York: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
North Carolina17: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
North Dakota: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Ohio: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Oklahoma: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Oregon: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Pennsylvania: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Rhode Island: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
South Carolina: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
South Dakota: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Tennessee: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Texas17: Male/Female: 17 | Male/Male: 17 | Female/Female: 17
Utah17: Male/Female: 16/18 | Male/Male: 16/18 | Female/Female: 16/18
Vermont: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Virginia: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Washington17: Male/Female: 16/18 | Male/Male: 16/18 | Female/Female: 16/18
West Virginia: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Wisconsin: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Wyoming17: Male/Female: 16/18 | Male/Male: 16/18 | Female/Female: 16/18
Travelling citizens18: Male/Female: 12-16 | Male/Male: 12-16 | Female/Female: 12-16
Military personnel19: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Uu: Uganda - Uruguay
Uganda: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 18
Ukraine: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
United Arab Emirates: Male/Female: 18/Married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
United Kingdom: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Uzbekistan: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 16
Uruguay: Male/Female: 15 | Male/Male: 15 | Female/Female: 15
Vv: Vanuatu - Vietnam
Vanuatu: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Vatican State: Male/Female: 12 | Male/Male: ? | Female/Female: ?
Venezuela: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: 16 | Female/Female: 16
Vietnam: Male/Female: 18 | Male/Male: 18 | Female/Female: 18
Ww: Western Samoa
Western Samoa: Male/Female: 16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Yy: Yemen
Yemen: Male/Female: Must be married | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: Illegal
Zz: Zambia - Zimbabwe
Zambia: Male/Female: ? | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: ?
Zimbabwe: Male/Female: 12/16 | Male/Male: Illegal | Female/Female: 12/16
General notes
If more than one age is given then the law within that country or state varies according to region or circumstances. In particular, some countries have regional laws that may overrule the federal law. Also in some cases the age of consent is lower when partners are of a similar age. Where the symbol ? is used, information is either incomplete or unavailable.
In some countries the age of consent is higher for those taking part in commercial sex. In many countries the age of consent is higher when one partner is in a position of trust with regard to the other, or when one partner takes advantage of the other's immaturity. Age of consent laws often do not apply when the partners are married.
In this table, male-female sex is defined as vaginal or anal sex, and male-male sex is defined as anal sex. In some places the age of consent law applies to any sexual contact.
* The average age of consent does not include countries where it is illegal.
Footnotes
1) In Queensland, the legal age of consent for anal intercourse is 18 (regardless of gender), while for vaginal intercourse it is 16.
2) Although the Austrian age of consent is basically 14, it is illegal to have sex with someone under 16 by "exploiting their lack of maturity".
3) In Brazil, authorities may not choose to prosecute if the younger partner is aged 14 to 17 and does not lodge a complaint.
4) In Canada, unmarried persons under 18 cannot legally consent to anal sex according to national law, although provincial laws may vary.
5) In Denmark, sexual intercourse is legal from the age of 15 in most cases. An exception is when the younger partner is an adopted child, step-child, foster child or the older person is entrusted with the education or upbringing of the younger person. In this situation, the younger partner must be over 18.
6) In Finland, sex with someone under 16 is not deemed sexual abuse of a child if "there is no great difference in the ages or the mental and physical maturity of the persons involved." Similarly in Norway, a prison sentence may not be imposed "if those who have committed the act of indecency are about equal in age and development." In both countries, lesser punishments may nevertheless be imposed.
7) In Germany, sexual intercourse is legal from the age of 14 in most cases. An exception is when the older partner is aged over 18 and is "exploiting a coercive situation" or offering compensation, in which case the younger partner must be over 16. In addition, it is illegal for someone aged over 21 to have sex with someone under 16 if they "exploit the victim's lack of capacity for sexual self-determination".
8) India's age of consent for heterosexual sex is 16 except in Manipur, where it is 14. If the partners are married then a lower age of consent applies (13 in Manipur and 15 elsewhere). A law banning "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" was overruled in a Delhi High Court ruling, meaning that consensual homosexual activities between adults are now legal. A full copy of the decision can be found on the Naz Foundation
9) Although the age of sexual consent in Japan is 13 years of age, prefecture law usually overrides federal law, raising the age up to 18.
10) In Mexico the federal law varies according to the age gap between partners and is often overruled by regional laws.
11) In Papua New Guinea, anal sex is illegal in all cases. The age of consent for vaginal sex is 16 for females and 14 for males.
12) Paraguay sets the age of consent at 14 within marriage and 16 outside of marriage.
13) The age of sexual consent in the Philippines is 12 for all, but contacts with minors (under 18) are an offence if the minor consents to the act for money, gain or any other remuneration or as the result of an influence of any adult person.
14) In Portugal it is illegal to perform a sexual act with a minor between 14 and 16 years old "by taking advantage of their inexperience".
15) Although Thailand's age of consent is usually said to be 15, the laws can be interpreted to allow prosecution for sex with someone under 18.
16) Anal sex is illegal in Tonga regardless of age and gender.
17) In some U.S. states a lower age applies when the age gap between partners is small, or when the older partner is below a certain age (usually 18 or 21).
18) It is illegal for an American citizen or resident to have sex in another country with someone aged under 16, unless the age difference is less than 4 years, in which case the minimum age is 12.
19) Under some circumstances it is possible for members of the U.S. military to also be charged under state laws.
Disclaimer
We rely on the help of our members to keep this information as accurate and up-to-date as possible. If you know that the age of consent in your country differs from that given above, and if you can supply good references to prove it, then please contact us.
We do not answer any queries regarding age of consent, so please refer to the laws of the particular country in question.
The information here is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used to inform personal decisions.
If you are in any doubt about the age of consent law in your country or region then please seek expert legal advice.
